Health Disparities in Tennessee
What
are Health Disparities?
Health disparities refer to the
disproportionate burden of disease, disability and death
amongst different groups of people. These
differences are usually categorized by race or ethnicity,
gender, education or income, disability, and geographic
location.
Health
Disparities in Tennessee
- Infant mortality (IM) is an
important measure of a state’s health status.
|
Tennessee |
IM
per 1000 live births |
Healthy
People 2010 target |
| White |
5.7 |
4.5 |
| Black |
15.2 |
|
-
The percentage of black
women who receive adequate prenatal
care is significantly lower.
|
Tennessee |
Percentage(%) |
| All |
77.3 |
| White |
80.6 |
| Black |
65.1 |
- Black females died of diabetes
mellitus at rates more than double
that of white females. And regardless of
race, females died of diabetes at higher rates
than males.
|
Tennessee |
Annual
age-adjusted mortality rates for diabetes deaths
per 100,000 women |
| White Female |
26.2 |
| Black
Female |
54.0 |
Heart Disease
- Tennessee ranks 48 out of
50 states. Tennesseans' risk for heart
disease ranks 22% above the national average
Cancer
- Tennessee ranks 8th
highest overall in cancer mortality rates among
the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Colorectal
Cancer**
|
Tennessee |
National |
| White 20.4 |
21.3 |
| Black
34.8 |
29.0 |
Breast
Cancer**
|
Tennessee |
National |
| White 27.1 |
28.2 |
| Black
38.8 |
37.1 |
** Average annual
age-adjusted mortality rates for cancer deaths per 100,000 persons
- Years of potential life lost (YPLL)
before age 75 years
|
Tennessee |
YPLL
before 75 (1997- 99) |
| White |
8493 |
| Black |
15103 |
| Hispanic |
4486 |
Sources:
Tennessee Department of Health and United Health
Foundation
Contact us at:
The
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Center on Health Disparities
66 North Pauline, Suite 334, Memphis, TN 38105
Robin J. Womeodu, MD, Interim Executive Director
rwomeodu@utmem.edu
|
